Apparatus for extinguishing fires



15;-0. .IQ1f-I1\Is01\1.l APPARATUS FOR BQXTINGUISHING FIRES. 192.

vPatented Nov.

efzry.

N, PETERS. Phallixhognphur. washington ILC,

KVUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,v

HENRY oLAY JOHNSON, OF MEADvILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES.

SPECIFICATIONformng part of Letters Patent No. 352,192, dated November 9, 1886.

Application filed J une lf2, 1886.

'.To all whom it may concern:

JWith a vessel or building, of a gas-holder pro- `vided With two outlets, one controlled by a thermally-operated seal and the other' controlled by a manually-operated valve, a eXible pipe or hose connected with the latter, and a fan or air-forcing device, as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through a vessel providedwith my apparatus; Fig. 2, an enlarged sectional View of the gas-holders shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 a similar view showing the gasholder provided with a thermal valve in lieu of the fusible plug.

A indicates the hull or body of a vessel, which may be of any type, and B B gas-holders,designed to be charged with carbonio-acid gas compressed to a state ofliquefaction. Each holder Bis furnished with two outlet-openings, a and b, the former sealed by a thermal valve, as shown in Fig. 3, or by a cap or plug, C, of

fusible metal or alloy, as shown in Fig. 2, having a comparatively low fusion-point, so low that in case of re Within a short distance of the receiver the heat would be sufficient to melt the cap or plug and liberate the gas. Such fusible alloys are common and Well known,and therefore need not be further specified than to say that they usually consist of lead, tin, and bismuth in proportions suited to the particular use contemplated. v

The gas-holders may be located at any desired point or points 5 but it is advisable to distribute them generally over the vessel or other structure, because of the greater certainty of fusion of the plugs or caps or the greater convenience of access when it is desired to open the outlets manually. As those res which begin in the hold are most diicult of access Serial No. 05,000. (No model.)

and control, I deexn it important to place one or more of the holders B therein, providing the same with a fusible plug or cap, O, and

with a valve, D, the stem ortoperating-rod c of which may becarried to any desired point in the vessel, so that the valve may be operated without descending to the hold. In the present instance the rod c is shown carried to the main deck. Gas-holders are also shown at various other points about the vessel, and it is intended to provide them in such number and size that their contents shall be sufficient to completely ll the vessel. Owing to the greater specific gravity of carbonio acid gas as compared with air,it naturally seeks the lowest point in the vessel or other structure, and therefore it is notessential to place gas-holders in the hold, thoughI deem it advisable to do so. f

E indicates a flexible pipe or hose connected by suitable coupling to the valve D,and serving to convey the gas from the holder to any desired point, thus enabling the iireman or attendant to direct the gas to that point in a cargo or stock where it is most needed and extinguishing the fire before it can spread.`

Incase the fire cannot be reached,it is only necessary to batten down the hatches of that part of the vessel or close the doors or Windows of that portion of a building in which the re occurs and permit the gas to escape there! in until the space4 or chamber is filled to or above the level of the tire, which will be promptly put out When such level is reached.

rent, such as a steam-jet apparatus or ejector openingfrom the ychamber to the outer atmosphere, and either connected with the machinery of the vessel or structure or With a special engine for the purpose, or adapted to be operated manually, as the case may be. 'In practice I prefer to'place one or more gas-holders on each covered deck of the vessel and in the hold; or in case of a building, one or more on IOO each door, and to provide a corresponding number of fans or ejeetors similarly arranged Vitli the hose or pipe E and valve D, I ain enabled to utilize the gas for cooling purposes,

the escaping 'gas rapidly expanding to its original volume, and in doing so taking up the heat ofthe surrounding atmosphere and producing intense cold. For the practical carrying out of this part of the plan it is essential ro to employ an expansion pipe or eoil, in order 2o order that when empty they maybe readily removed and reeharged,or replaced by others duly eharged,and for this reason,a1nong others, I employ suitable Couplings for connecting and disconnecting the hose.

I do not claim herein, broadly, the use of carbonio-acid gas as aineans of extinguishing fire, nor,- broadly, a gas-holder provided with a fusible plug, as I have hithertoenibraced these ideas in other patents.

The thermal valve illustrated in Fig. 3, which I consider the equivalent of a fusible plug er seal, may be of any desired construction, a very simple plan being illustrated in Fig. 3. As shown in said ligure, the expansion ofthe vertical stem or rod allows an opening in the latter to register with an opening in the top of the holder B, and allows the escape of the gas or air.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim in In combination with a vessel or building, a

-gaas-holder provided with two outlets, a seal applied to one of said outlets and adapted to open the same at a predetermined temperature, a valve applied to the other, a flexible pipe or hose connected with the valve. and a fan or air-forcing device connecting with the chamber which receives the gas escaping from the gas-holder, all substantially as set forth.

HENRY CLAY JQHNSON.

Witnesses: l

DAVID STEWART DENIsoN, JOHN H. WALLACE. 

